Horseshoe organ with stop tablet assembly



Jan. 27, 1970 SCHWARTZ ET AL 3,491,645

HORSESHOE ORGAN WITH STOP TABLET ASSEMBLY Filed June 26, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 Z0 5 I will I l I 3 N54 l I f i i mmgl 35 62 74 I g 5 12/ 0/45 aaczmpzz 64 J1" fllfldz dflji gms Jan. 27, 1970 H SCHWARTZ ETAL HORSESHOE ORGAN WITH STOP TABLET ASSEMBLY Filed June 26, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan.27, 1970 CHW RTZ mp 3,491,645

' HORSESHOE ORGAN WITH STOP TABLET ASSEMBLY Filed Jun 26, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet a United States Patent Int. Cl. G101) 3/10 US. Cl. 84343 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A horseshoe organ having a plurality of wires supported internally of the organ case by brackets about the horseshoe, with the wires supporting stop tablets and switch components.

Electronic organs for home use are generally made with rather straight cabinet lines, specifically with the keyboards and stop tablets being in a rectilinear arangement. However, in large or complex organs such as for church, concert, or theater use, it is common to provide the stop tablets in an arcuate or concave array immediately above the keyboards, such organ commonly being known as a horseshoe organ. The horseshoe portion of the case is madeup of a combination of curved and straight lines, and therefore the mounting of stop tablets and switches presents a considerable problem. The various components can be individually mounted from the case, but the amount of hand labor involved in such mounting and in adjusting parts relative to one another is prohibitively expensive.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved stop tablet assembly for a horseshoe electric organ.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a stop tablet assembly in a horseshoe electric organ wherein elongated support members run substantially from end to end of the horseshoe, and support the stop tablets and switches thereon.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a stop tablet assembly for a horseshoe electric organ wherein wires supported on spaced brackets extend substantially from end to end of the horseshoe and carry the stop tablets and switches.

It further is an object of the present invention to provide simple and novel positioning or guiding means for relatively orienting switch and stop tablet components.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a horseshoe electric organ constructed invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the stop tablet assembly on a greatly enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the parts in a different position of operation;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view taken substantially along the line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal view partly in section taken substantially along the line 6-6 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 4 on an enlarged scale and taken substantially along the line 77 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, exploded perspective view of certain of the parts of the switch mechanism;

FIG. 9 is an assembled perspective view of the parts of FIG. 8; and

in accordance with the present FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view from the under side of the inner end of a stop tablet constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Turning now to the drawings in greater particularity, and first to FIG. 1, the invention is shown as incorporated in an electronic organ having a case 20. The case includes a horseshoe-shaped wood panel 22 disposed above a pair of organ keyboards 24. Stop tablets 26 are mounted on the horseshoe-shaped or curved panel 22 in a manner hereinafter to be described. In addition to the two manuals or keyboards, the organ also is provided with a pedal board or clavier 28, a bench 30 being positioned above the pedal board. Grille cloth 32 is provided at the front of the organ, and a speaker system, not shown, is disposed behind the grille cloth. Additional stop tablets 34 are disposed on inclined panel 36 between the upper keyboard or manual and the curved or horseshoe panel 22, while further stop tablets 38 are disposed to the left of the manuals.

Turning now to FIGS. 2-7, a plurality of identical sheet metal brackets 40 is spaced about the horseshoe or curved panel 22 from one end to the other thereof, on the back side thereof within the case 20. Each panel includes a vertical wall 42 disposed at right angles to the adjacent portion of the horseshoe panel 22. Each bracket further has an integral right angle vertical flange or tab 44 adjacent the top corner thereof, and a similar flange or tab 46 adjacent the back corner thereof, the flanges being secured to the back side of the panel 22 by means such as screws 48 passing through apertures in the flanges and threaded into the wood panel 22.

Each bracket is provided near its upper remote corner with an aperture 50. With the brackets in installed position, the apertures 50 are all aligned on a curve corresponding to the curve of the horseshoe panel 22, and a continuous steel rod or Wire 52 is passed through all of the brackets, this rod or wire being on the order of diameter. Spaced downwardly and toward the panel 22 from each aperture 50, there is an aperture 54 in each bracket panel or wall 42, and a wire or rod 56, similar to the wire or rod 52, is passed through all of the curvilinearly aligned apertures 54.

Spaced further down from the aperture 54, and slightly farther from the curved panel 22 than the aperture 50, each bracket panel 42 has an aperture 58, the curvilinearly aligned apertures 58 carrying a wire or rod 60 similar to those previously noted. Finally, slightly further away from the curved panel 22, and spaced below the aperture 58, each bracket panel 42 is provided with an aperture 62. The curvilinearly aligned aperture 62 of the several brackets support a wire or rod 64 of the nature previously described.

The brackets 40 preferably are stamped of steel for strength and rigidity as well as reasonable cost. To hold down weight and conserve material, the brackets are shaped as shown. In particular, the tabs or flanges 44 and 46 space the adjacent edge 66 of each bracket wall 42 from the inner surface of the horseshoe panel 22. The bottom edge 68 of each bracket slants diagonally up to a position just below the wire 64. The remote edge then extends up at an angle approaching the vertical at 70 to a position just above the wire 60. Each bracket then is provided with an arcuate relief or cutout 72 to a position adjacent the wire 52. Further, each bracket is provided near its bottom portion with a pair of circular apertures 74.

The panel 22 is provided with a plurality of horizontally elongated windows 76 through which the stop tablets 26 extend. Each window is defined at the upper portion by a slanting surface 78 which is higher at the inside of the panel 22 than at the outside, forming a shallow angle with the horizontal, typically somewhat less than 30. A felt pad 80 is adhesively secured to each surface 78, and forms an up-stop for the stop tablets 26. The bottom of each window is defined by an inclined surface 82 forming a slightly greater angle with the horizontal, typically on the order of 35 to 40 degrees. A felt pad 84 is adhesively secured to this bottom surface, and forms a down-stop for the stop tablets.

Each stop tablet 26 comprises a molded plastic, downwardly opening hollow body 86 extending outwardly and downwardly through a window 76 into position for engagement by the fingers of the organist. For purposes of identification, each stop tablet may be one of several different colors.

Each stop tablet 26 further has a head 88 integral with the body 86 including a pair of vertical longitudinal flanges 90 along the opposite edges thereof spaced by a floor 92 having an upwardly offset step 94 (see particularly FIG. 7) adjacent the body 86-. A metal cross pin 96 is received between the upper inner corners of the flanges 90, the flanges being thickened at that point as at 98, and having initially upwardly opening recesses 100 in which the ends of the pin are set. The plastic material above the pin is subsequently touched with a hot implement such as a soldering iron partially to melt and deform the plastic, and thus to hold the pin permanently in position.

On the underside of the head, as best seen in FIG. 10, at the extreme inner end, there is a transverse flange 102 interconnecting the longitudinal flanges 90 for stiffening and strengthening the stop tablet. Spaced toward the body of the stop tablet from this flange, there is a boss 104 having ribs 106 extending laterally therefrom to the lower edges of the longitudinal flanges 90 where they extend below the floor 92. The boss is provided with a central aperture 108 opening up through the floor 92 for purposes to be set forth hereinafter. Further down the head is a transverse flange 110 having a lower surface coplanar with the lower surfaces of the boss 104 and ribs 106. Just to the inside end of the head from the flange 110 there are downwardly opening notches 112 in the side walls or flanges 90. The under side of the head, insofar as significant features are concerned, is completed by internal shoulders 114 adjacent longitudinally extending ribs 116 on the flanges 90, the shoulder surfaces being coplanar with the bottom surfaces of the rib 110 and the boss 104 and ribs 106.

A switch actuator 118 (best seen in FIGS. 7 and 10, but also seen in FIGS. 3-5) is secured beneath the head, and includes a body 120 having an upper flat surface 122 with a downwardly extending peripheral flange 124. There is a tubular boss 126 depending from the floor and joined by three radially extending flanges 128 to three of the sides of the peripheral depending flange 124.

A fourth flange 130 is offset somewhat from being a radius, and extends to the fourth side of the peripheral flange 124. A longitudinally extending flange 132 extends from the flange 130 parallel to a side wall of the peripheral flange 124, defining therewith a channel 134 opening outwardly toward the panel 22 at 136.

The top surface 122 of the switch actuator head fits between the ribs 116 against the shoulders 114 and also against the downwardly facing surfaces of the rib or flange 110 and the boss 104 and ribs 106, the longitudinal flanges or ribs 116 preventing sidewise motion or rotation of the switch actuator body. A self-threading screw 138 extends through the bore in the boss 104, and taps into the boss 126 of the switch actuator body to hold the top surface 122 thereof in the position just described. Preferably, the screw has a preassembled lock washer 140 under the head thereof to insure against inadvertent loosening of the screw.

The swicth actuator 118 further includes a depending leg 142. and comprises a generally horizontally disposed walls, the longitudinal wall 144 comprising a downward extension of one of the ribs or flanges 128, and a transverse wall 146 comprising a downward extension of the forward portion of the peripheral wall 124.

A switch operator 148 is disposed at the bottom of the leg 142, and comprises a generally horizontally disposed wall of rectangular outline, having on its opposite longitudinal edges four laterally opening recesses, respectively identified by numerals 150, 152, 154, and 156.

The stop tablet is held either in a lowered or off position as shown in FIG. 3, or in a raised, operated position as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, by a generally U-shaped overcentering spring 158, seen in any of FIGS. 37. This spring is of suitable sheet spring material, such as steel, phosphor bronze, or the like, and comprises a pair of substantially parallel legs and 162 interconnected by a bight 164. A lower Ushaped end retainer portion 166 of relatively small radius overlies the pin 96, while a generally similar U-sha-ped retainer end portion 168 of somewhat larger radius underlies the wire 52. The side walls or arms 160 and 162 normally diverge at an acute angle, and are held in substantial parallelism, as shown, by trapping of the spring between the wire 52 and the pin 96 of the corresponding stop tablet.

As will be apparent from what has gone before, each stop tablet is pivoted on the wire 56, being held thereon by the underlying top surface 122 of the respective switch actuator head. A dead center relationship exists among the wires 52 and 56 and the pins 96. Thus, the springs 158 hold their respective sto-p tablets either in up or down position, depending on which way any stop tablet has last been moved by the fingers of the organist. Indeed, it is not necessary that a stop tablet be moved all of the way up or down, it being only necessary that the movement be past a dead center position so that the respective spring will complete the movement.

Each stop tablet 26 has a switch unit 170 (seen best in FIGS. 79, and seen also in FIGS. 3-6) including a sheet metal bracket 172. The sheet metal bracket includes a flat mounting base 174 having a lower horizontal flange 176 extending at right angles thereto, and also having an upper horizontalflange 178 extending parallel to the flange 176. The flange 176 extends farther out from the base 174 than does the flange 178, and is provided with a pair of spaced apertures 180. The spacing .of the flanges 176 and 178 is such as respectively to underlie the wire 64 and overlie the wire 60, as is best seen in FIG. 7.

An anchor plate 182 is urged toward each base 174 by a screw 184 extending through a central aperture in the anchor plate, and threaded into an aperture in the base 174. The screw again is preferably of the type having a preassembled lock washer beneath the head thereof. The anchor plate 182 is provide-d with obliquely disposed flanges 186 along its upper and lower edges, and tightening of the screw 184 causes these flanges cammngly to engage the wires 60 and 64, whereby tightly to mount each switch unit on this pair of wires.

Each sheet metal bracket 172 further has an integral side flange 188 extending from the base 174 back toward the horseshoe panel 22, and also extending up toward the corresponding stop tablet. The upper end of the side wall 188 forms an oifset finger 190 received in the channel 134 of the switch actuator of the corresponding stop tablet 26, whereby to provide accurate lateral positioning of each stop tablet and corresponding switch unit. Before turning from the sheet metal bracket, it should be noted that the side wall 188 is provided with a rectangular aperture 192 near its lower, outer corner. The purpose of this aperture will be apparent hereinafter.

Each switch unit further includes a rectangular printed circuit board 194 including the usual insulating base, and having certain circuits printed on the bottom thereof at 196 in accordance with the usual techniques. A large number of apertures is provided in the printed circuit board for cooperation with the printed circuits, and for other purposes, as will be hereinafter pointed out. Two rela tively large apertures 198 are provided which are aligned with the apertures 180 in the lower flange 176, rivets 200 being secured in the aligned apertures to mount the printed circuit board .on the sheet metal bracket. One or more movable or whisker contacts 202 extend up from the printed circuit board, being soldered to respective ones of the printed circuit on the under side thereof. The upper ends of the whisker contacts are respectively received in the notches 150, 152, 154 and 156 of the switch operator for movement thereby.

A molded plastic switch base 204 (best seen in FIGS. 7- 9) is mounted on top of the printed circuit or insulating board 194. The switch base 204 comprises a pair of upstanding parallel side walls 206 and 208, each of which has a downwardly extending cylindrical protuberance 210 centrally located, the protuberances being received in two of the holes 212 in the printed circuit board for locating the switch base. Each of the side walls 206 and 208 on its outer face has two pairs of vertically extending slots, grooves, or kerfs 214 and 216 relatively adjacent the vertical edges of the walls, and each pair being separated by a vertical rib 218.

The side walls 206 and 208 are interconnected by an overlying roof or top wall 220 integral therewith and extending at its opposite edges beyond the side walls at 222. Each extension further is provided with a lug 224, one of which projects into the aperture 192 of the sheet metal bracket for positioning purposes. The other lug in each instance is idle, but is provided for symmetry of construction and installation.

The top wall 220 is provided with transversely oriented elongated slots 226 extending to the outer limits of the side walls 206 and 208. The ribs 218 extend to the top surface of the top Wall. Intermediate the ends, each of the slots 226 is provided with lowered transverse members 228 having upstanding ribs 230 thereon which are coplanar wtih the respective ribs 218.

The switch unit 204 is completed by a plurality of fixed contacts, generally designated by the numeral 232. Each fixed contact 232 has a generally straight shank 234 received in one of the grooves 214, 216, with a reentrant portion 236 near the upper end thereof, and a right angularly disposed contact strip 238 at the extreme upper end. The contact strip 238 lies adjacent the top end of a rib 218, and lies in a channel beside a rib 230 and above a cross member 228. The lower end of the shank projects through one of the holes in the printed circuit board, and is deflected at an angle, as at 240, to hold the fixed contact in place.

The contact element 238 of each fixed contact is shown as being rather short, whereby to reach only about half way across the center support 228. As will be apparent, the whisker contacts 202 pass up through the elongated slots or openings 226, and are deflectable by the switch operator 148 into engagement with one or another of the fixed contact elements. However, it is contemplated that the fixed contact element 238 could be longer to extend across the intermediate support 228 and the adjacent space, i.e., extending from one side wall to the other, whereby to be contactable by two whiskers 202, if desired. There can be anywhere from one to four whiskers for each operator, and the fixed contacts can run from one to eight in number, the switches provided by the fixed contacts and whiskers thereby being anywhere from single pole single throw switches to four pole double throw switches, according to requirements of a given switch. As will be appreciated, lead wires 242 can be soldered to the lower extending ends 240 of the fixed switch members.

It will be appreciated that there has now been disclosed an electronic horseshoe organ having a superior stop tablet assembly which is reliable in operation, and which more importantly is readily assembled, comprising a plurality of duplicated parts, i.e., brackets, stop tablets,

switch elements, etc., with all of the stop tablets and switch components being supported on four wires supported in curves parallel to the curved panel of the horseshoe by the brackets. The wires are sufficiently flexible that they need not be preshaped, yet are rigid enough to hold the requisite positions between brackets. The support of the wires by the plurality of brackets insures substantial parallelism of the wires with the horseshoe panel. Further, proper pivot mounting of each stop tablet about a horizontal axis is insured, as is vertical alignment of each set of parts, irrespective of possible slight skewing of one or more brackets.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. In a horseshoe organ of the type having a case with at least one manual and a curved horseshoe panel above said manual, said panel having a predetermined height, a stop tablet assembly comprising a plurality of elongated support members, spaced similar means mounting said support members within said case substantially parallel to and spaced inwardly from said horseshoe panel and curving in the same manner, a plurality of electric switches carried by said support members, a plurality of stop tablets pivotally carried by said support members respectively in close proximity to said electric switches, said stop tablets and said switches being mounted substantially within said predetermined height, said panel having aperture means through which said stop tablets extend for manual pivoting thereof, and means operatively interconnecting said switches and said stop tablets for operating said switches upon pivoting of said stop tablets.

2. A stop tablet assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the panel has a right end and a left end, and wherein said support members extend continuously substantially from end to end of said panel.

3. A stop ta'blet assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein said support members comprise wires.

4. In a horseshoe organ of the type having a case with at least one manual and a curved horseshoe panel above said manual, said panel having a predetermined height with a right end and a left end, a stop tablet assembly comprising a plurality of elongated support members extending continuously substantially from end to end of said panel, means including a plurality of similar brackets spaced along said panel for mounting said support members within said case substantially parallel to and spaced inwardly from said horseshoe panel and curving in the same manner, a plurality of electric switches carried by said support members, a plurality of stop tablets pivotally carried by said support members respectively in close proximity to said electric switches, said stop tab-lets and said switches being mounted substantially within said predetermined height, said panel having aperture means through which said stop tablets extend for manual pivoting thereof, and means operatively interconnecting said switches and said stop tablets for operating said switches upon pivoting of said stop tablets.

5. A stop tablet assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein the support members comprise wires.

6. In a horseshoe organ of the type having a case with at least one manual and a curved horseshoe panel above said manual, said manual having a predetermined height,

a stop tablet assembly comprising at least two elongated support members, spaced similar means mounting said support members within said case substantially parallel to and spaced inwardly from said horseshoe panel and curving in the same manner, a plurality of electric switches carried by one of said support members in spaced relation therealong, a plurality of stop tablets pivotally mounted on another of said support members in similar spaced relation therealong and respectively in close proximity to said electric switches, said stop tablets and said switches being mounted substantially within said predetermined height, said panel having aperture means through which said stop tablets extend for manual pivoting thereof, and

means operatively interconnecting said switches and said stop tablets for opearting said switches upon pivoting of said stop tablets.

7. A stop tablet assembly as set forth in claim 6 and further including a third elongated support member, and a plurality of overcentering springs respectively extending from said third elongated support member to said stop tablets.

8. A stop tablet assembly as set forth in claim 6 and further including mutually interfitting lateral aligning means between each stop tablet and corresponding switch for insuring proper relative lateral alignment.

9. A stop tablet assembly as set forth in claim 6 and further including a third elongated support member, the stop tablets being pivotally mounted on one elongated support member, and the switches each being mounted on two elongated support members.

10. A stop tablet assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein there are four elongated support members, and further including a plurality of overcentering springs respectively extending from said stop tablets to the fourth elongated support members.

11. A stop tablet as set forth in claim 10, and further including mutually interfitting lateral aligning means between corresponding stop tablets and switches for insuring relative lateral alignment thereof.

12. In a horseshoe organ of the type having a case with at least one manual and a curved horseshoe panel above said manual having a left end and a right end, a stop tablet assembly comprising four wires, a plurality of similar brackets spaced along the inside of said horseshoe panel and supporting said wires in said case in substantial parallelism with one another and substantially parallel to and spaced inwardly from said horseshoe panel, said wires curving in the same manner as said panel, a plurality of electric switches each carried by two of said wires with said switches spaced along said wires, a plurality of stop tablets each pivoted on a third one of said wires and spaced similarly to said switches in close proximity thereto, said panel having aperture means through which said stop tablets extend for manual pivoting thereof, a plurality of overcentering springs respectively extending from said stop tablets to the fourth wire, and means operatively interconnecting said switches and said stop tablets for operating said switches upon pivoting of said stop tablets.

13. A stop tablet assembly as set forth in claim 12, wherein each stop tablet has a switch actuator detachably mounted thereon and extending toward the corresponding switch, said actuator lying on the opposite side of the third wire from the stop tablet and securing the stop tablet thereon.

14. A stop tablet assembly as set forth in claim 13, and further including lateral positioning means extending between each switch and corresponding stop tablet for laterally positioning each stop tablet and switch relative to one another.

15. A stop tablet assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein each electric switch includes a clamp engaging the two wires on which the switch is mounted from one side and holding a part of said switch against said two wires from the opposite side.

16. A stop tablet assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein the part on each switch comprises a bracket.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,131,814 3/1915 Austin 84345 1,762,274 6/1930 Marr 84-343 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner JOHN F. GONZALES, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 3,491, Dat d January 27,

lnventofls) Harold O. Schwartz and Howard M. Thomas It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 73, "swicth" should be --switch--; Column 3, line 74, "and comprises a generally horizontally" should be --comprising a pair of right angularly--.

SIGNED A'ND SEALED JUL28I970 Edward H. Fletcher, Ir.

mm In 18. om commissioner of Pam! 

